Does Old Home Tavern Eau Claire Wi Still Server Hot Beef Sandwiches
Austin'southward White House - Photo courtesy of Donna Bezanson
Eau Claire'southward long-gone restaurants – the ones we knew and loved – were critical to forming the eatery landscape we savour today. They helped hone our palates and gave united states enduring memories of time spent dining out with family and friends.
With the assist of the nearly eight,000 followers of the Y'all Know You Are From Eau Claire When … Facebook grouping, nosotros compiled the list below. Nosotros were diddled abroad by the response to a postal service in which we asked group members most their favorite gone-only-non-forgotten local restaurants. In the days (and weeks) that followed, more than 300 people chipped in to reminisce well-nigh the eateries – supper clubs, buffets, cafés, taverns, pizza joints, sandwich shops, and more – that they most miss. It wasn't exactly a scientific poll, simply the 500 comments (and counting!) gave us a good wait at which places Chippewa Valley diners, as a whole, miss the well-nigh. Go your napkins (or perchance handkerchiefs?) ready, because here, in order, are the nigh-mentioned retired restaurants, along with a few memories of each.
1. Stafne's Sunset Inn
If you believe our online survey, Stafne's Sunset Inn, 2211 S. Hastings Way, is the most-missed restaurant in the Chippewa Valley. A top destination beginning in the 1950s and beyond, Stafne's was known for acme-notch prime number rib and excellent service – both common themes on this list. "It was quality, not mass product," wrote Kathy Jorgensen Church. "It was quiet, (and) you could really have a conversation with your dinner partner(south). You were non rushed to brand room for the next table of people." No wonder one of Stafne's advertising slogans was "Where Dining is a Pleasure."
ii. Austin's/Fischer's White House
Austin Johnson and Eddie Meyers started this eating house – dubbed "Eau Claire'southward original steak business firm" – in 1941, and Johnson took over sole ownership of what became known as Austin'due south White Firm (above) in 1946. His daughter, Kaija Johnson, says her female parent, Mildred, served as the bookkeeper, and the family owned the restaurant until selling it to Dave and Lily Fischer in 1987. Befitting its name, Austin's had a reputation as one of the classiest joints in town. "Austin's White House was a special place to get for a special date, celebration, or a great steak," writes former Eau Claire resident Rod Bauer of Birchwood. The White House airtight after a fire in 2001.
three. The Camaraderie
The "Cam," as it was lovingly known by several generations of Eau Clairians – notably UW-Eau Claire students and staffers – was opened by Meriland "Pearly" and Mary Lee Johnson and Joe and Mary Giammona in 1971. (Before that, the establishment was owned by Peter Giammona and was called Pete's Fifth Avenue Bar.) Cozy, friendly, and decorated with historic artifacts (including church building chandeliers and a courthouse balcony), the Esprit was a classic, Thank you-like tavern. Gloria Hochstein of Eau Claire fondly remembers "salads with 'fixings,' dorsum rooms for meetings, glorious cheese curds, noisy wooden floors, mementos from Eau Claire history, and then much more." Emily Rockwell recalls going there to consume as a kid: "I remember the amazing decor – big wooden bars in the forepart and back, tons of old neon signs and unique posters, (and) checkered tablecloths. It was such an eclectic, homey place." Sadly, the Cam was destroyed past fire in 2001. Dooley'southward Pub now stands in its place at the corner of Water Street and Fifth Avenue.
4. Pied Piper
This pancake firm stood at 1527 South Hastings Fashion, roughly where a McDonald'due south is today. Between the 1970s and 1990s, the Pied Piper lured hordes of diners with cheap comfort food. (A 1976 newspaper advertisement touted a 95 cent all-you-can swallow midnight pancake feed.) Brian Steinke adds that the Pied Piper was one of his mother'south favorite places to eat, but that she avoided it on Fridays because the fish fry attracted so may patrons. "Pied Piper was more of an after bar closing time place, where you got steak and eggs for a reasonable price and could sit and drink java with your friends until the sun came upward," remembers Kathy Jorgensen Church.
The Jolly Troll – Photograph courtesy of George Firm
v. The Jolly Troll
The Jolly Troll Smorgasbord, 2613 E. Clairemont Ave., opened in 1966 and is recalled every bit much for the copious amounts of Scandinavian food it served up every bit it is for its animatronic trolls (which were either adorable or creepy, depending on individual perspective). Eau Claire'due south Eric Larsen, whose parents managed the identify from 1969 to 1975, remembers the amazing Swedish meatballs (besides as the stinky, once-a-year lutefisk). The sometime abode of the Jolly Troll became an Old Country Buffet in 1983.
6. Mike'due south Smokehouse
With the help of a century-erstwhile barbecue sauce recipe from Texas – not to mention huge portions – Mike's became i of Eau Claire'due south favorite dining spots after opening in 1978 at the corner of Clairemont Avenue and Menomonie Street. "Mike's Smokehouse was fantastic," recalls Rod Bauer. "Food, service, price, location, everything was super fantastic. I enjoyed the fish and nigh of all the prime rib." The Smokehouse moved in 1997 to new digs at 2235 N. Clairemont Ave., and changed hands twice earlier going out of business in early 2014.
7. Craven Unlimited
Despite its name and the fervor with which it was adored by the chicken-loving masses, this eatery's time on the local scene was sadly ... er ... limited. Between roughly 1968 and its untimely end in 2012, however, Chicken Unlimited served up to-die-for fried poultry with all the fixings for carry-out or dine-in at 1410 Due south. Hastings Manner. "Craven Unlimited had the number ane, best-ever chicken anywhere," lauds Rod Bauer. "I miss information technology dearly."
viii. Chi-Chi's
These days you can't throw a chimichanga without hitting a Mexican restaurant in the Valley, simply that wasn't always the case. Chi-Chi's, 1030 West. Clairemont Ave., was 1 of the first large-scale eateries to feature Southward of the Border fare. "Chi-Chi's was the premier place to become when you had those cravings for proficient Mexican food or wanted to chill out with friends and accept a few margaritas," recalls Brian Steinke. One of the few concatenation restaurants on this listing, Eau Claire's Chi-Chi'due south opened in 1984 and airtight in the early 2000s effectually the time the unabridged chain filed for bankruptcy.
The Anchor Inn – Photo by Christopher Stone via Our Old Town Eau Claire
9. Anchor Inn
Truthful to its nautical name, Anchor Inn, on "old" U.S. 53 betwixt Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, is well-remembered for seafood. "You have never eaten shrimp until you lot had Ballast Inn shrimp," wrote Rick Wickland on Facebook. Adds Tami Schraufnagel: "The all-you lot-can-swallow fried shrimp were most as dauntless as I would get, In those days – probably 25 years ago – I could snarf downward 3 servings. (I liked the fact that they were pocket-sized plates filled with out-of-the fryer goodness)." Anchor Inn closed in 1983.
10. Wally'south Chalet (tie)
Beginning in the mid-1960s, Wally's helped come across the Valley's seemingly clamorous gustatory modality for all-American food – especially steak. Wally's, 1505 N. Clairemont Ave., is recalled by former Eau Clairian Doug-Stevie Benson for "extremely friendly people," skilful food, and reasonably prices. Wally's airtight in 2001; the building is now home to Tailgate'south Sports Bar & Grill.
ten. Bonanza (tie)
Bonanza, which opened in 1983 at 2620 E. Clairemont Ave., is recalled warmly past former patrons and employees akin. "It was a corking place to get an inexpensive steak, and the salad bar seemed a mile long!" remembers Brian Steinke. Paula Duxbury, who worked there equally a waitress, says sometime staffers still go together for reunions. "I'm touched that, while we were part of a national chain, nosotros did a great job," she says. In 1996, Grizzly'southward moved into the restaurants, which is now Milwaukee Burger Co.
Source: https://volumeone.org/articles/2015/04/07/205143-10-of-eau-claires-most-missed-restaurants